Public utilities provide electric, gas, water or telephone service to customers in a specified area. Utilities have a duty to provide safe and adequate service on reasonable terms to anyone who lives within the service area on without discriminating between customers. Because most utilities operate in near monopolistic conditions, they can be heavily regulated by local, state, and federal authorities. Generally, the local and state agencies are called Public Service Commissions (PSC) or Public Utility Commissions (PUC). Municipal Utilities and Rural Electric Cooperatives may be unregulated though.
Pinehurst is an unincorporated village and a census-designated place (CDP) in the town of Billerica, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 6,941 at the 2000 census. It is located in the southeastern part of town along Route 3A between the Shawsheen River and the Burlington town line. Pinehurst's zip code is 01866 and is for mail delivery to the Pinehurst PO Station only. Home and office mail delivery in Pinehurst must use the Billerica, MA zip code (01821).